Book Review: Rock Chick Reborn by Kristen Ashley

Rock Chick Reborn by Kristen Ashley

Contemporary Romance. Can Stand Alone, but I think you should read the series first.

BEST SURPRISE EVER!!!!! Kristen Ashley and I are now both 50, and one of the things I love about her writing is the fact that she writes older women beautifully. Shirleen Jackson is the wise, street-savvy 53 year old black woman who got out of a life of crime, redeemed herself fully, and now she is the receptionist for Nightingale Investigations who fosters two young men, Sniff and Roam. She is in the thick of all the action in the Rock Chicks. She watched everyone find love, now it’s her turn. We thought the Rock Chicks were over…but there is more. Rock Chick Reborn. (Plus new covers for the series!)

“I’d lived through hell.
And there I was, near tears in the bakery section of King Soopers.
Because I wanted a badass. I wanted to be adored, beloved, worshipped by a good man who saw nothing but good in me.
I’d wanted that for as long as I could remember.
And it wasn’t going to happen.
Not for me.
Never for me.
Because life was unfair.
But the worst of it was…
I’d made it that way.” 

Despite the gorgeous man trying to get her attention, Shirleen was so down on herself, she wouldn’t let herself even think about the good man who crashed into her cart (deliberately).

“Now that I have your attention.”
Oo…
Wee.
His voice was honey.
Warm, sweet, deep, delicious honey.
Hell’s fire.
“Uh…” I forced out.
“I’m Moses,” he declared.
Oh Lord.
Good name.
Great name.
Goddamn.
“Um…” I mumbled.
“Moses Richardson.”
I got kinda lost in watching his lips moving.
They moved again.
“Now’s the time you tell me your name,” he ordered.

Ooowee is right! I LOVED Moses! He had hot bunch written all over him. In fact, they investigated him top to bottom before Shirleen even decided to accept his advances. I can not tell you how happy it made me to see Shirleen get a good man. If anyone deserves it, it’s her. We really got to see so much more into her life, and her relationship with Sniff and Roam, who, even though they are new adults, they still need a mama, and she is the best of the best, because she CHOSE them, making it even more special. Sadly, everyone can see it but Shirleen.

I loved her journey. I loved how she went from thinking she deserved the worst to understanding how wrong that is. Her moments with Darius and her boys were so special, but it was Moses who brought her back to life. To a better life than she ever knew.

I am literally tearing up writing this review, because if anyone deserves happiness, it’s Shirleen. And she is finally realizing that herself.

“For the first time since I could remember, I could not wait for what was next up in my life.”

Sigh…I couldn’t imagine a better guy for Shirleen.

“Was in the room when both of my daughters were born,” he shared strangely.
“Yeah?” I asked.
His gaze finally stopped on mine. “So that was the third most beautiful thing I witnessed in my life.”

Likes:

• A story that so needed telling!
• Getting inside Shirleen’s head. We always thought she was the tough, competent, funny, loving mom figure. I was surprised to see how that big personality covered up so many insecurities.
• The meddling Hot Bunch.
• Moses is a single dad of two girls and he’s a great dad.
• Roam and Sniff’s relationship with Shirleen.
• Just the right amount of race if that makes sense. Moses is a very proud black man and his race is a large part of who he is, as is Shirleen, but not as much. I loved that, but I loved how it was never too much. I never felt like race was pushed, but isn’t wasn’t swept under the rug either. I think it was an accurate depiction of society today.
• Visiting with all the Rock Chicks and Hot Bunch.

Dislikes:

• It was a slow-burn, then wrapped up quickly. I would have liked a little more together time.

The Down & Dirty:

Rating: 5 Stars, 3 Heat

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